Online judaica store

Jewish families, synagogues and schools, and people buying gifts for weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs and holidays.

You mark up each item over wholesale cost. Orders are busiest before the High Holidays, Hanukkah and Passover, and gift bundles and bulk orders for schools or congregations can lift order size.

• Knowledge of Jewish customs and holidays
• Basic online selling and photography
• Organised stock and order handling

• Collecting and remitting GST/HST, and PST or QST where it applies, once you pass the small supplier threshold, so check with the CRA and your province
• Customs duties and shipping times on imported goods, especially before holidays
• Items such as mezuzah scrolls and tefillin must come from a reputable, qualified scribe, so check your suppliers carefully
• If you sell to customers in Quebec, check the French-language rules for websites and product information
• If you work from home, check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on how much stock you hold, your website setup and whether suppliers ship directly to customers.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $5,000, depending on your range, how many customers you reach and the time of year. Holiday periods can bring busier spells, so plan stock and shipping early.

Check GST/HST, and PST or QST where it applies, with the CRA and your province. Also look at customs duties on imports, French-language website rules for Quebec customers, and sourcing ritual items such as mezuzah scrolls from qualified scribes.